The holidays typically results in a lot of yummy leftovers which means planning make ahead freezer meals meals to pack away in food storage containers is never a bad idea.
When I host the holiday feast, I admittedly always make about 6 times more food then needed so I’ve pretty much got the whole leftovers game down to an art. Before my guests arrive, I pull out my favourite freezer-friendly Gladware containers and load them up as I clean, sending everyone home with a little care package, and leaving myself more than enough to get through the week. Some things (especially the lighter dishes) get stored right in the fridge so that I’ll be enticed to enjoy them within a few days, while more indulgent items that would be best to savour slowly get cut into smaller portions and stored as make ahead freezer meals to be pulled out when I need a little holiday treat.
Either way, you need something durable, compact (ie. not 2 L containers for a 1/2 cup serving of vegetables) and air-tight. I like GLAD products because they’re BPA free, the containers can be used in the microwave or freezer and they have really tight interlocking lids to seal in freshness and prevent leaks. The holiday “sanity savers” are particularly cute to keep on hand this time of year because you’ll inevitably be sending your guests home with freezer meals as a little care package that you’ll want to still look nice.
GLAD’s super cute Holiday Freezer Zipper Bags (I stored my homemade peanut butter cups in them)
The GLAD Holiday products come in two different size resealable containers- the deep dish and tall entrée, medium and large holiday freezer zipper bags, and holiday press n’ seal food wrap (for those bowls without lids!). All of them are decked out in the most adorable winter patterns – perfect for giving your goodies away in style as freezer meals.
The genius GLAD Holiday Press’n Seal food wrap
These are also great if you plan to do any holiday baking this season and want to transport and gift your goodies in something inexpensive but still festive. Just pop a pretty bow on top with a holiday card and you’ve got a beautiful gift your friends and family will love.
Both sizes of the GLAD Holiday Containers
To get you thinking about a menu that lends itself beautifully to holiday leftovers and food storage sharing, I rounded up some of my favourite make ahead freezer meals here at Abbey’s Kitchen and from some of the most well respected fellow dietitian bloggers.
My Favourite Make-Ahead Freezer Meals for Holiday Leftovers
Abbey’s Kitchen
Gluten Free Banana Honey Nut Baked Oatmeal
Abbey’s Kitchen
Holiday Healthy Apple & Pumpkin Crisps
Healthy Bites
Curried Quinoa with Butternut Squash & Pepitas
Mom’s Kitchen Handbook
Double Ginger Molasses Cookies
The Nutritionist Reviews
Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato
Food, Pleasure & Health
Kale, Leek and Cheese Frittata
Abbey’s Kitchen
Healthy Pumpkin Pecan Pie Oatmeal Cookies
The Nutty Nutritionist
Green Chili Corn Casserole with French Fried Onions
Shaw Simple Swaps
Gluten Free Almond Poppyseed Pumpkin Bundt Cakes
Shaw Simple Swaps
Apple Pie Walnut Donuts
Nutty Nutritionist and Fitness
Cranberry Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Abbey’s Kitchen
Holiday Cocktail Meatballs with Hoisin Apple Glaze
Mom’s Kitchen Handbook
Farmers’ Market Soup
Holley Grainger
Double Chocolate Mini Muffins
Nutty Nutritionist and Fitness
Sneaky Carrot Cake Muffins
Shaw Simple Swaps
Vegan Savory Squash Stew
No Nonsense Nutritionist
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
Abbey’s Kitchen
Freezer Friendly Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes
Jenna Braddock, RDN – Make Healthy Easy
Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins
The Grateful Grazer
Butternut Squash Soup with Curried Kale Chips
What are your go-to holiday recipes that are great as make-ahead freezer meals?
Leave me a message below in the comments with your family’s favourites and I’ll give them a try!
Disclaimer: This post was developed in paid partnership with GLAD Holiday Sanity Saver, however, as always, all opinions are genuine.
Updated on October 4th, 2021
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Kalee says
I love all of these ideas! I want to try the Sneaky Carrot Cake Muffins! I also use Glad and freezer friendly recipes a ton this time of year; both are so convenient!
Abbey Sharp says
Definitely a life saver !
Mikki says
Oh my! I love this time of year when all the cute stuff like this comes out. The freezer meals are awesome.. but how cute are those containers… Lol!
Abbey Sharp says
lol definitely cute
Carmy @ carmyy.com says
SO CUTE! I need to pick that up for my leftovers!
Abbey Sharp says
Good plan!
Cassi says
We always get a big turkey and incorporate it into meals for a long time afterwards. I haven’t attempted to do this with the sides.
Abbey Sharp says
yeah why not right!
Jessica @Small Bites by Jessica says
Leftovers are the best part about the holidays right?! 🙂 These sound great!
Abbey Sharp says
I agree!
Christina says
What a tasty roundup! It’s a better way to use leftovers than just eating the same thing for dinner two weeks following a big holiday meal 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
Exactly! Gotta keep things interesting!
GiGi Eats says
I need to just show my husband this list and have him pick out the ones he wants because…. Well, he does not plan in advance and then come time when he is hungry, he doesn’t have or doesn’t know what to eat! Ha! THIS would make eating so much easier for him!
Laura says
Good idea! I never want to threw some food away. Freezer is just the perfect way to save food and money.
Abbey Sharp says
Definitely!